These are the people and experiences that deserve our heartfelt recognition
The Dalai Lama once said that “the roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” In other words, good things happen more often when we take the time and energy to truly appreciate them. And we’re not talking about just passively enjoying the good qualities and actions of others…we’re talking about expressing gratitude in a substantial way. That’s the soil that grows more goodness!
The etymology (history) of the word “appreciation” helps drive the point home. “Appreciation” comes from the 15th century French word “appreciation”, which comes from the late Latin word “appretiare”. Appretiare means to “set at a price, appraise”. That means when you appreciate something, you’re really saying, “This is how valuable what you did is to me. It’s worth this much.”
To encourage more of the goodness we all rely on in the world, we need to express appreciation substantially. (It’s a big reason why we run a local gift basket company!) And these are a few of the good things that we think deserve more of that “soil of appreciation” to grow in.
Here are our top 5 most underrated reasons for showing appreciation:
Mentorship
Can you imagine where you’d be without the people who have mentored you? People who have shown you the way, given you sound advice, provided a sounding board for your ideas, believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself? We love how Bob Procter defines a mentor as “someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you." Whether this person has been a teacher, an employer, a neighbor, a relative, or anything in between, they deserve gratitude.
For mentors who made a big difference, we recommend giving the Deluxe Charcuterie & Cheese local gift basket.
Teamwork
Are there any team members at work who are especially supportive to you? Did you know that they might actually be helping you to enjoy your job a lot more than you otherwise would? In fact, Gallup research from 2018 shows that “those who [have a best friend at work] are seven times as likely to be engaged in their jobs”.
For team members who make work so, so much better, we recommend giving the Comfort & Cravings Snack local gift basket.
Time Invested
Some say that the greatest gift you can give is time. So, who in your life has been especially generous with their time? Jim Rohn says “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” And we agree that it’s a big deal when someone chooses to spend their time with you. But it’s not just about time spent with you. Who is giving you their time behind the scenes?
For the time investors who choose your company and well-being again and again, we recommend giving the Sweet Treats local gift basket.
Child Care
Who are the people who make a difference in your children’s lives? Grannies, friends, neighbours, teachers, therapists? Who has watched the kids so you could get away, meet a deadline, recover from an illness? Who provides the loving care that your kids need outside of your family home?
For the people who have pitched in time, energy, and talent to support your kids, we recommend giving the Charcuterie & Cheese local gift basket.
Energizers
We like to champion the incredible contribution that “energizers” make in our lives. What’s an “energizer”? Well, research shows some people increase your enthusiasm, effectiveness, and stamina while others literally do drain your energy. When someone puts a little pep into your step, it’s wonderful to recognize them.
For energizers who help you to rise to any occasion, we recommend giving the Wellness Spa local gift basket .
Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Why not make someone worthy of your appreciation feel the love?
